Woman hacked own uni over parking: cops
A woman who allegedly conducted a series of cyber attacks against Western Sydney University is a former student, it has been revealed.
The 27-year-old was charged on Wednesday morning by detectives from NSW Police's Strike Force Docker with 20 offences relating to the hacks.
Police will allege in court that the woman initially broke into the university's systems to secure unauthorised discounted parking on campus.
She then allegedly altered her academic results before escalating the behaviour to attacks on other people in the university community.
Western Sydney University has faced a series of cyber attacks since 2021, allegedly committed by the former student, with stolen data and threats to sell students' information on the dark web among the many hacks. The former student was taken to St Marys Police Station. NSW Police Force Credit: NewsWire
Hundreds of staff and students are estimated to have been affected by the attacks.
After a lengthy investigation between NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police and cyber security experts, the former student was charged.
Computer equipment and mobile devices were seized in a search of her home. Computer equipment was seized in the search. NSW Police Force Credit: NewsWire
The woman's charges include 10 counts of access/modify restricted data held in computer, four counts of unauthorised modification of data with intent to cause impairment, and a charge of dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception.
Investigations are still under way through Strike Force Docker.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Greens candidate charged after being injured in protest
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas has been charged by police after she suffered graphic injuries during a pro-Palestine protest outside a Sydney business. Ms Thomas was photographed with a damaged left eye with streaks of dry blood caked onto her cheek in the wake of the protest outside SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest on Friday. Protesters picketed the company because of reports it provides components in jets which is used by the Israeli Defence Force, the NSW Greens said in a statement. NSW Police attempted to disperse the group, stating the protest was not authorised, and issued a move-on order to 60 protesters. 'As police attempted to arrest the protesters who were not complying with the directions, a scuffle ensued between police and protesters,' NSW Police said in a statement. Police previously charged four people with a variety of offences. On Sunday Ms Thomas was issued by police with a future court attendance notice and charged with hinder/resist police and refuse/fail to comply with direction to disperse. She will appear in Bankstown Local Court on August 12. Ms Thomas challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the federal seat of Grayndler at the election earlier this year. A photo taken after the incident showed Ms Thomas standing next to an officer with visible swelling around her eye. Ms Thomas underwent surgery and remained in hospital on Sunday. The Greens said in a statement on Friday that NSW Police had 'violently attacked and assaulted protesters' at the 'peaceful picket … leaving one woman with serious facial injuries and arresting multiple demonstrators'. 'SEC Plating reportedly is involved in providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets,' the statement said. 'The State of Israel's fleet of around 40 F-35 rely on the global supply chain and supplement supply from countries like Australia to continue the genocide against the Palestinian people.' The Greens said Peter O'Brien Lawyers has been engaged to represent Ms Thomas and other protesters.
ABC News
18 hours ago
- ABC News
Search continues for missing hiker Christopher Moore in bushland near Nowra
Authorities are ramping up search efforts to find a missing bushwalker on the NSW south coast in "difficult terrain" ahead of forecast rainy conditions. Christopher Moore has not been seen since Wednesday morning after he was dropped off for a solo camping trip on Twelve Mile Road at Jerrawangala, south of Nowra. Mr Moore's family alerted police to his disappearance on Friday, after the 38-year-old failed to return to the same road to be picked up around midday. Chief Inspector David Cockram said the hiker was "experienced" and was believed to have adequate supplies with him, including thermal clothing, food and boots. "Despite that, we've had some cold conditions and we've definitely got concerns for his welfare." Search efforts to find Mr Moore started on Friday afternoon, with extensive multi-agency efforts continuing across the weekend. NSW Police has been aided by a helicopter, the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service, with many crews searching through the thick bushland on trail bikes. "We're doing anything we can provide to that search capacity to try and find this fellow," Chief Inspector Cockram said. The search has been conducted in a large area across difficult terrain in Jerrawangala National Park and around bushland near Wandandian. "You'd have to have some sort of experience, good provisions and good equipment to try and navigate through that area, particularly as a solo person," Chief Inspector Cockram said. "I think [Mr Moore] had intentions to go off track as well, which provides some further complications for us. Chief Inspector Cockram said authorities would put "more boots on the ground" on Monday morning ahead of expected wet weather in the region. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a medium chance of showers for Nowra, located 30km north of the search ground, on Monday evening, before more rainfall is expected from Tuesday to Friday. "If we're looking at a large amount of rain, that's definitely going to impact our ability to be on the ground," Chief Inspector Cockram said. "We're going to rip in [on Monday] and see what we can do with some additional resources."
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warns ‘no one is above the law' after former Greens candidate injured at protest
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has warned that "no one is above the law" following the serious injury of former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas. Ms Thomas, who ran against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the election, was injured at an unauthorised protest in Sydney on Friday. She has undergone surgery amid fears she could lose vision in on eye after clashing with NSW Police. Mr Burke told Sky News Sunday Agenda that the protest had not been organised in consultation with local authorities and said demonstrators did not obey police orders. 'When people were asked to move on by the police they should have followed the police direction. Apparently they didn't,' he said. 'The issue of the injury will be dealt with by the police review but for anyone wanting to have a protest, you know, no one's above the law.' Video footage from the rally shows scuffles between demonstrators and officers, with police later confirming Ms Thomas was injured while being arrested. The protest was organised in opposition to a company called SEC Plating which the Greens have accused of being involved in the supply chain that makes Israeli fighter jets. Mr Burke expressed sympathy for Ms Thomas's condition but argued that protesters need to adhere to police orders. 'Obviously the New South Wales police say that they're conducting a review of the circumstances to work out exactly what happened,' he said. 'I'm told there's some video footage but it's hard to identify exactly what's happened … Obviously you never want anyone to have serious injuries in any situation.' Ms Thomas has not been charged. 'Police issued a move on direction to a group of about 60 protesters, who allegedly attempted to block pedestrian access to the business,' NSW Police said in a statement. 'A 26-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were subsequently arrested after allegedly failing to comply with the direction. 'During the 35-year-old woman's arrest, she sustained facial injuries and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.' Greens politicians have since condemned the police response and called for inquiry into whether the actions were 'excessive'. "Anyone watching knows it's wrong that police are violently arresting those calling for an end to genocide,' federal Greens Senator David Shoebridge said. 'The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent.' 'The actions of the NSW Police can only be described as brutal and excessive,' NSW Greens MP and justice spokesperson Sue Higginson said. 'I have spoken with the people in police custody this morning, in my legal capacity, and they cannot believe what they saw happen to the individual.'
